-LRB- CNN -RRB- Between light-hearted moments like Benedict Cumberbatch taking a swig from a hip flask and Neil Patrick Harris parading on stage in his underwear , it was all about activism and controversial topics at the 87th Academy Awards .

A broad range of issues , from immigration to suicide to Alzheimer 's disease to wage inequality , took center stage .

Sean Penn rubbed many the wrong way when he joked `` Who gave this son of a bitch his green card ? '' as he presented Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu the best picture award for `` Birdman . ''

Iñarritu seemed unperturbed and devoted the Oscar win to his fellow Mexicans , saying , `` I just pray they can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones that came before and built this incredible , immigrant nation . ''

In the press room , Iñarritu said of Penn 's joke , `` I found it hilarious . Sean and I have that kind of brutal -LRB- relationship -RRB- where only true friendship can survive . ''

Mostly , though , the night belonged to messages of empowerment .

After expressing the usual gratitude to cast and crew of Richard Linklater 's `` Boyhood , '' best supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette took a moment at the end of her acceptance speech to call for equal pay for women .

`` To every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and citizen in this nation : We have fought for everybody else 's equal rights . It 's our time to have wage equality in the U.S. , '' she said , causing an uproar in the room as well as on social media .

Despite Meryl Streep 's whooping approval , some viewers said the irony was not lost on them that Arquette 's speech was given at such a lavish affair . Others argued that although the message was important , it marginalized the LGBT and non-white communities .

Reese Witherspoon , who was nominated for best actress for her role in `` Wild , '' advocated for the hashtag #AskHerMore , which encourages red carpet presenters to ask more thought-provoking questions instead of the usual appearance-driven ones like `` Who are you wearing ? ''

Graham Moore gave an emotional speech after his win for best adapted screenplay for `` The Imitation Game . ''

`` When I was 16 years old , I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different and I felt like I did not belong , '' Moore said . `` And now I 'm standing here , and so I would like this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she 's weird or she 's different or she does n't fit in anywhere . Yes , you do . I promise you do . Stay weird . Stay different , and then when it 's your turn and you are standing on this stage , please pass this same message to the next person who comes along . ''

The hashtag #StayWeird took off in the wake of Moore 's speech .

Resources for suicide awareness and prevention include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and The Trevor Project .

And lastly , J.K. Simmons got preachy about a topic that hits close to home for many : The winner of best supporting actor for `` Whiplash '' encouraged viewers to #CallYourMom .

`` And if I may , call your mom . Everybody -- I 'm told there 's like a billion people or so. Call your mom ; call your dad . If you are lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet , call them . Do n't text , do n't email , '' he said .

So , have you called her yet ?

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Sean Penn 's immigration comment at the Oscars causes some to cry `` inappropriate ! ''

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Patricia Arquette took on wage inequality , to the appreciation of Meryl Streep

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Screenplay winner Graham Moore gave an emotional speech about growing up `` weird ''